Please attend forums on
Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

 

The Sustainable Funding Coalition, a diverse group of Iowa organizations (including INHF) that works for sustainable conservation funding, is sponsoring a series of candidate forums on the proposed Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.

 

So you can make your voice heard on this important issue, this e-mail provides background information on the forums, a list of forum dates & locations, and pre-registration instructions.

 

About the Fund: The proposed Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund would provide a permanent funding source to support efforts to improve and preserve Iowa’s water quality, soils, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

 

To create the fund, proposed legislation mandates that 3/8ths of a cent from state sales tax revenue will be appropriated for the Trust Fund the next time the Iowa legislature approves a sales tax increase. The Sustainable Funding Coalition hopes to pass Trust Fund legislation during Iowa’s 2009 legislative session.  NOTE: This bill does not raise taxes, nor does it give voters the ability to raise the sales tax—only the legislature can do that.

 

About the forums

 

Ten candidate forums scattered throughout the state provide a chance for citizens and legislators/candidates to discuss this legislation together. Please consider attending the forum nearest you to learn more about this proposal, show your legislators/candidates that Iowans care about conservation funding, and promote passing the needed legislation for this fund during Iowa’s 2009 legislative session.

 

How to pre-register & attend: Find the forum nearest you in the list below and then pre-register at http://conservation-candidate-forum.speedsurvey.com. NOTE: Pre-registration is critical because individual events may be canceled if pre-registration numbers are low.

 

Schedule of Forums

 

Community	Date/Time	Location
Grinnell	9/24/08 @ 6:30 pm	Old Glove Factory,  733 Broad St. (part of Grinnell College)
Independence	9/25/08 @ 6:30 PM	Heartland Acres (the big, barn-like building on the west side of Independence off HWY 20)
Perry	9/29/2008 @ 6:30 PM	IACCB - Forest Park Musuem (south of Perry - 14581 K Ave)
Ames	9/30/2008 @ 6:30 PM	Ames Public Library (515 Douglas Ave)
Fort Dodge	10/1/2008 @ 7 PM	Iowa Central Community College (One Triton Circle)
Muscatine	10/4/2008 @ 9AM	the Student Center at Muscatine Community College, (152 Colorado St)
Mason City	10/6/2008 @ 6:30	Mason City Library (225 Second St. SE)
Atlantic	10/8/08 @ 6:30	Cass County Community Center (805 W 10th St)
Des Moines	10/8/2008 @ 6:30	Izaak Walton League – (4343 George Flagg Pkwy)
Chariton	10/14/2008 @ 7 PM	Pin Oak Nature Center on HWY 14 south of Chariton

 

If you have questions about the forum or for more information about the Trust Fund, please contact Rosalyn Lehman, Campaign Coordinator, Sustainable Funding Coalition, at 515.202.7720 or [log in to unmask].